These data were gathered to assess whether drug users are
greater risks than nonusers for rearrest or failure to appear for
scheduled court appearances while on pretrial release. The data also
evaluate the relative effectiveness of periodic surveillance through
urinalysis, traditional narcotic treatment, or neither in reducing
rearrest and failure to appear during the pretrial period. The
collection provides information on arrestees who both tested positive
for drugs and were released on recognizance as well as those arrestees
who tested negative but were not released on recognizance. Drugs
tested for include heroin, cocaine, PCP, methadone, and
amphetamines. Arrestees who were released were randomly assigned to
one of three groups: weekly urine testing, referral to drug treatment,
or a control condition. The data offer information on the offender's
background, family and employment status, probation and parole status,
pending charges, and prior convictions. Other variables include date
of arrest, charge, initial release, decision, date of disposition,
type of final disposition, number of subsequent arrests before trial,
and number of bench warrants issued. Results of urine tests at arrest
are available for about 65 percent of the total sample. For those in
the experimental surveillance group, summary urine test results from
the periodic testing program are available. There is no measure of
treatment for the drug treatment or control groups.

These data were gathered to assess whether drug users are
greater risks than nonusers for rearrest or failure to appear for
scheduled court appearances while on pretrial release. The data also
evaluate the relative effectiveness of periodic surveillance through
urinalysis, traditional narcotic treatment, or neither in reducing
rearrest and failure to appear during the pretrial period. The
collection provides information on arrestees who both tested positive
for drugs and were released on recognizance as well as those arrestees
who tested negative but were not released on recognizance. Drugs
tested for include heroin, cocaine, PCP, methadone, and
amphetamines. Arrestees who were released were randomly assigned to
one of three groups: weekly urine testing, referral to drug treatment,
or a control condition. The data offer information on the offender's
background, family and employment status, probation and parole status,
pending charges, and prior convictions. Other variables include date
of arrest, charge, initial release, decision, date of disposition,
type of final disposition, number of subsequent arrests before trial,
and number of bench warrants issued. Results of urine tests at arrest
are available for about 65 percent of the total sample. For those in
the experimental surveillance group, summary urine test results from
the periodic testing program are available. There is no measure of
treatment for the drug treatment or control groups.

Access Notes

The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public.
Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

Users are cautioned that some variables may contain
wild codes or other unexpected values. Variables located in column
positions 622-1737 are particularly subject to this condition.

Methodology

Study Purpose:
Data were collected for two purposes: (1) to
assess whether drug users are greater risks than nonusers for rearrest
or failure to appear (FTA) for scheduled court appearances while on
pretrial release, and (2) to test the relative effectiveness of
periodic surveillance through urinalysis, traditional narcotic
treatment, or neither in reducing rearrest and FTA during the pretrial
period. The Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) of Washington, DC tests
arrestees for drug use at the time of arrest. The data include urine
test results for five drugs: heroin, cocaine, PCP, methadone, and
amphetamines. An important feature of this study is that persons who
(1) tested positive for drugs and (2) who were released on
recognizance were randomly assigned to one of three groups: periodic
urine testing (usually weekly), referral to drug treatment, or a
control condition. The data file also includes arrestees who were
negative for drugs and for whom a Released on Recognizance (ROR)
release was not obtained.

Sample:
All adults arrested that are brought to the attention of
the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) of Washington, DC. The data exclude
unfounded arrests and other arrests which were immediately
disposed. Persons arrested more than once during the sampling period
have multiple data records.

Description of Variables:
The PSA collects information relevant for pretrial
release recommendations including offender's background, family and
employment status, probation and parole status, pending charges, and
prior convictions. The data also contain the PSA's summary assessment
of likely offender flight or safety problems and the reasons for that
assessment. The official record information includes date of arrest,
charge, initial release decision, date of disposition, type of final
disposition, number of subsequent arrests before trial, date of first
rearrest, FTA information, and number of bench warrants
issued. Results of urine tests at arrest are available for about 65
percent of the total sample. For those in the experimental
surveillance group, summary urine test results from the periodic
testing program are available. There is no measure of treatment for
the drug treatment or control groups.